
This sweet album from the amazing BETTY EVERETT was produced in 1969. Just before I posted this today I took a glance at it on Amazon and saw it was going at $55.00 a pop.
Betty Everett was originally from Greenwood, Mississippi. She is known for her biggest hit single "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)."
At the age of nine, Everett began playing the piano and singing gospel music in church. She continued these activities while growing up until moving to Chicago in 1957 to pursue a career in secular music. She recorded for various small local labels before she was discovered in 1963 by A&R musical director Calvin Carter, from the then fast-growing independent label, Vee-Jay Records.
That same year, an initial single failed, but her next Vee-Jay release, a bluesy version of "You're No Good" (written by Clint Ballard, Jr. and later a #1 hit for Linda Ronstadt), just missed the U.S. top 50. Her third single, the catchy "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", was her biggest solo hit (a surprise for Everett, who did not want to record it and allegedly felt that the song was too silly[citation needed]). It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made #1 on the Cashbox R&B chart.
Her other hits included "I Can't Hear You", "Getting Mighty Crowded" (covered by Elvis Costello in 1980), and several duets with Jerry Butler, including "Let It Be Me" which made the US Top 5 in 1964 and was another Cashbox R&B number 1. After Vee-Jay folded in 1966, she recorded for several other labels, including Uni, Fantasy, and ABC.
After an unsuccessful year with ABC, a move to Uni brought another major success in 1969 with "There'll Come A Time", co-written by producer and lead singer of The Chi-Lites, Eugene Record, This rose to #2 in the Billboard R&B listing (#26 on the Hot 100) and topped the Cashbox chart. However, most of her later work could not match the success she had with Vee-Jay, although there were other R&B hits with "It's Been A Long Time" and "I Got To Tell Somebody", which re-united her with Calvin Carter in 1970. Her final recording came out in 1980, again produced by Carter. Her awards include the BMI Pop Award (both for 1964 and 1991) and the BMI R&B Award (for 1964).
From the 1980s until her death, Everett resided in Beloit, Wisconsin, where she was involved in the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and the churches of the Fountain of Life and New Covenant. A flurry of press interest in her in the early 90s followed the use of "The Shoop Shoop Song" in the successful film, Mermaids, starring Cher, but she was unable to properly resurrect her career. In 2000, she made her last public appearance on the PBS special Doo Wop 51. Everett died at her home in Beloit on August 19, 2001; she was 61 years old.
01 - You're Falling In Love
02 - Better Tomorrow Than Today
03 - Maybe
04 - 1900 Yesterday
05 - Sugar
06 - I Need A Change
07 - I Can't Say No To You
08 - Hold On
09 - There'll Come A Time
10 - Take Me
11 - Is There A Chance For Me
12 - The Same Old Me
13 - It's Been A Long Time
14 - Just A Man's Way
15 - Unlucky Girl
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Nice one Gman. Love her Shoop Shoop song and "Getting Mighty Crowded" is a classic.
ReplyDeleteThanx RICARDO and thanx 4 all of the killer music you've sent to me via email. B.E. was a great talent....love those fair voiced soul mamas.
ReplyDeleteG MAN
I love Betty Everett. I feel like we just didn't get enough of her. I have a bunch of greatest hits albums, this being the first regular. Your site is always a joy to me. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI agree TROODS.......itz hard to ever get enough of BETTY E.
ReplyDeleteG MAN